Welcome to the first part of our series looking at the ACE's Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2006. We're going to look at what these trends might mean for personal trainers, gyms and fitness facilities.
Trend #1: Sport specific training for teenagers and kids
Unless you haven't been paying attention, you've probably noticed the growth in "year-round" sports for kids. Kids aren't just playing soccer in the Spring, they're playing all year round - indoors if they have to. Parents are encouraging their kids to focus on a single sport and develop their skills year-round. Of course, teenagers are often looking to develop their skills in the hopes of landing that dream college scholarship.
As a result, two things are happening: parents are seeking out training services that might enhance their childs/teenagers skills in their sport AND these same kids are developing injuries related to overuse.
The year-round trends provides an opportunity for trainers to target a specific sport (baseball, basketball, etc.) and provide services for an entire year. In addition, trainers should look to develop relationships with coaches, leagues and clubs and offer services to parents who might not be active searching out for training for their children. Due to the high level of competition between teams (many youth coaches are now paid for their services), coaches often look to trainers to get that advantage.
So, what does it mean for you?
If you have experience or knowledge of a specific sport, there are going to be opportunities for you to take your knowledge and provide it to the youth market. Begin developing relationships with local coaches, clubs and leagues to provide your services. You might begin by offering sessions to entire teams or groups of select players. Chances are that parents are going to seek you out for more information or services if they value your training.
